Today, the Ocean City Nor'easters and Oaklyn United FC are announcing a partnership between the clubs that sees Oaklyn become an official development team for the Nor'easters.
The Nor'easters are one of the winningest and most storied clubs in American grassroots soccer history. Founded in 1996 under the leadership of President Giancarlo Granese, Sr., the Storm count more than 110 professional players in their alumni ranks including 33 MLS draft picks. Currently competing in USL League Two (the fourth tier of the US pyramid) they remain a divisional powerhouse, winning the Mid-Atlantic title in 2022 with an undefeated 11-0-3 record. They boast the fifth-most wins in the history of the league.
Oaklyn United FC is a grassroots community soccer club based in Camden County, New Jersey with a player footprint that spans the greater Philadelphia area. Founded in 2018 as a recreational team, the club has become the area's fastest growing lower-league organization and now competes at the elite amateur level in the Eastern Premier Soccer League. The EPSL is a USASA-sanctioned amateur “super league” that features teams from feeder leagues in New England all the way down to Virginia. Clubs that finish top of the EPSL can optionally promote into the fully professional National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) system.
As part of the new partnership agreement, Oaklyn United’s EPSL team will serve as a place for promising young players to build their skillset and match readiness under the guidance of premium coaches including Nor'easters head coach Matt Perrella and assistant coach Cam Christine, who will take up those same titles with Oaklyn. OUFC founder Alex Lewis will remain manager of the EPSL team.
The new set-up is already paying dividends. Just last week, Perrella led the Nor'easters to a statement victory over perennial powerhouse West Chester United in the first round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Included in Ocean City's match day roster were several players who also feature weekly in Oaklyn's EPSL team. The Storm next face the Maryland Bobcats, a professional team competing in NISA, in Round 2.
Leaders at both organizations noted the possibilities this partnership creates for players who reside in the population-dense Philadelphia metro area to reach higher levels of the sport via the Oaklyn-Nor'easters development pipeline.
"The Nor'easters are the most prominent and successful pre-professional club in New Jersey; players deserve access to our brand and the opportunity to showcase themselves,” said Perrella. “Youth clubs in New Jersey should feel confident that their best players have a great club to head to next with a track record of proven success in getting players into the professional ranks.”
"We're incredibly proud to make this partnership official, and even more grateful to Giancarlo, Matt, and everyone at the Nor'easters," said Lewis. "We've always wanted Oaklyn to become the 'bridge' to the elite level for players from a wide range of backgrounds. Thanks to this partnership, it's mission accomplished."
Supporters can catch Oaklyn United in action during the Spring half of the EPSL season, and the Nor'easters during their US Open Cup run and again when USL-2 resumes in late May. Visit www.oceancityfc.com and www.oaklynunitedfc.com for more.
